UNKNOWN

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3804, 24 September 1883, Page 4

UNKNOWN

I , .•-.'. -a.--. !.-i7').. wli - :',.- .-.-,.-ii v.;-;-; filf-.l v.-i'ih iii.'pr.:\s--'.<ot i'qiT.ru W..-:r.. r I-..' pw'mmag aor>.;-i tho Eugiis.i_ Uiaunel, at t-lio Str-ii's ol D.r.-er. a New Yv'c liiwyiv to tii.) I!u;'ii-igt 1:1 i-'v-y iVe-.; a gr iphic-i",:i>:i:it of a h ■•■*>'■ -.'-.: ;>..:-.>>i-i!i-- 1 >>y Caps.in \\\4.:. iv April, IS ( 3. whi.-h lii-Avrn-r witnc.-i-d, oi a ;vtr.:n trip o-; ih.Rus.Ma to LiAL-vpool. 'ihe initials signed to the letter, "J.8.E.," were those of ex - Police Commissioner and present United States Marshal Erhardt. The letter Avas copied, with due credit, in tho EveningMail of September 22, 1875, and is in tho form republished beloAV. Ascamanhadfallen overboard from the Russia. "J.8.E., thus continued the story : His fall was witnessed by his companions —not, hoAvevcr, more than a companion because a messmate of the same crew—not rising to the close-ness of a friend. He gave the alarm, dropped his bucket, ran, dressed as ho was, clear to the stern, some 250 foot; with a bound cleared at once the railing and the screw, a blow from the blade of Avhich Avould have crushed him instantly, and swam after his comrade. Long before the steamer had turned around, both the man Avho had thus jumped and the boat that went after him had disappeared from the sight of all but an officer Avho had been sent to the maintop to Avatch them, Half an hour passed and the boat had given up both men for lost and Avas returning in obedience to a signal from the steamer, when on its Avay back it sighted and picked up the hero Avho had jumped into tho broad ocean, 300 miles from land. Jumping Avith his top boots and a tight-fitting cardigan jacket on, ho Avas helped into the boat with nothing on but his troursers (having divested himself of tho rest Avhilo swimming) and blue Avith cold. Ho had brought with him tho hat of his comrade, who had sunk to rise no more, having doubtless been struck by the screw and killed. The Russia proceeded on her voyage. The passengers headed by AVilliam J. Florence, the actor, subscribed £50 for the family of tho poor lad Avho Avas lost and £5 for the crew who picked the hero up ; arid they raised and presented him Avith £100 in

gold. Ttiis act of heroism was the most gallant the Avriter has ever seen, and it has been his good fortune to have seen many, both in tho field and iv ciyil life. The man aviis a sailor, and he avcll Iciioav that such attempts at rescue result generally in the loss of both. Ho knew that it would be ton minutes before the steamer could turn and drop a boat, and that he Avould be three miles astern, and he well knew that unless both he and tho searchers for him mounted the crest of a wave at the same time, and very near each other, he Avould not be seen, and that his voice could not be heard above tho noise of tho Avind. Ho knew that steamers are not apt to delay long to search far men lost under such circumstances. Ho took all these risks, but he took no needless risks, for he ran 250 feet to the stern before he jumped, to avoid tho danger of being sucked under the ship and struck by the screw, shoAving that he acted thoughtfully as Avell as promptly. The man's modesty aviis equal lo his bravery. He took tho gift rather unwillingly, and Avith a speech Avorthy of a hero: "I thank you, and Avish my comrade Avas here to share it." He meant every word. He spoke with his eye and from his heart ; ho did not think of Avhat he had done, but Avhat he had failed in doing, aud of the companion he had lost. After the accident the passengers saAV little of him. He kept out of their Avay, and seemed to feel that the people were looking at him, and although he aviis cornered in the forecastle once or twice by some of the passengers, he talked but little concerning his effort. He did say, however, that Avhen the boat gave him up and pulled away his "life passed quickly before him." Had it been indeed his last review of life, would not the errand he aviis on, and the hat ho held in his hand, have passed him in at '' the Gates ?''

There was among the passengers many well-knoAVH citizens —Jackson S. Schultz, of Now York ;Mr Garrettson, U.S. Commissioner to A : ienna, aud many others. Mr Schultz made our hero tho offer that if he ever desired to letiA'c the sea he would take care that he succeeded on land. He thanked him for the offer, but did not accept it. The Royal Humane Society, of London, deviated from their rule, I think almost settled, not to give a medal unless a life is saved, and gave this sailor ono. It Avas justly earned.